1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I used to live in Bolingbrook, IL and have a passion for writing about the village. Since 1998, I’ve maintained the Bolingbrook Babbler satirical blog where I publish fictional “news articles” that are a cross between the Weekly World News and the Onion. I contributed to the Demon: The Fallen role-playing game line, and even shared a credit with Chuck Wendig for our work on Saviors and Destroyers. In 2022, I finally published the first two Bolingbrook Babbler Stories books. They’re dramatic stories compared to the lighter tone of my web articles.
I’ve had a passion for writing fiction ever since I was in grade school, with a particular love for Science Fiction and Fantasy. I enjoy imagining new settings and creating vivid characters, but I also believe that characters are just as important as the setting. After all, if readers don’t care about the characters, they won’t feel invested in the story. For this reason, I strive to create characters that readers can connect with on an emotional level.
Advertisements
2. What inspired you to write your book?
My goal with A Fire in the Shadows was to create a bridge between the first book, Pathways to Bolingbrook, and the second book, The Rift. That’s why I labeled it Book 1.5. In Pathways, Miriam decided to become a vampire, and Sara joined the Bolingbrook Babbler as a reporter. In A Fire in the Shadows, Miriam is “reborn” as Lydia, but now she has a new set of problems to deal with. Meanwhile, Sara has become the editor of the Babbler, and this story provides more details about her role and the challenges she faces.
3. What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
In addition to providing readers with a deeper understanding of the Babbler Stories setting, I hope they will come away with a greater empathy for neurodivergent individuals. Lydia is a compassionate and caring person, but in vampiric society, those traits make her a deviant. Humans, if they knew about vampires, would fear her and see her as a monster. It’s why she feels isolated and desperately alone. Through her story, I aim to shed light on the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals.
4. What drew you into this particular genre?
Although I’m a believer in science-based skepticism, I enjoy exploring settings where supernatural creatures coexist with modern-day humans. My interest in Urban Fantasy grew out of the Goth Punk genre that I wrote in for many years. One thing I appreciate about Urban Fantasy is that it allows for a wide range of supernatural creatures, some of which may not be the traditional “monsters” we typically think of. In this genre, authors can also portray humans as terrifying monsters, adding an extra layer of complexity to the storytelling.
5. If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I would choose to speak with Aurora, Lydia’s blood sister, and ask her why she became a vampire, despite knowing that it would make her cruel and uncaring. Was she a bully when she was a mortal, or did she associate kindness with weakness? The answer is the key to understand Aurora’s motivations.
6. What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
It would be Facebook, because I spent years building an audience. Overall, I’d say my blog did the most to develop my readership.
7. What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Every writer’s journey is unique, and what may have worked for one author may not work for another. That’s why it’s important to do your own research and not blindly follow any writer’s advice. Be like Bruce Lee: Use what works for you, and discard what doesn’t.
8. What does the future hold in store for you? Are any new books/projects on the horizon?
I will release a collection of my web stories from 1998 to 2017. The working title is God to Smite Bolingbrook. It will be exclusively for my newsletter subscribers. Then I plan to resume writing the third Bolingbrook Babbler book. My goal is to release it by the end of 2023, or early 2024. I don’t have dates for books four and beyond, but I will write them. My goal is to make sure each book can be read as a standalone book. I’m a writer who can’t stand ending a book on cliffhangers.
Advertisements
About the Author
William Brinkman is the creator of the Bolingbrook Babbler web series and the author of the Bolingbrook Babbler Stories series.. He is currently a member of the Freethought Blogsnetwork and has been involved in secular advocacy over the years.
He’s also a former contributor to White Wolf’s Demon: The Fallen series. Additionally, William has also written science fiction works since grade school. As a student at the University of Iowa, William majored in journalism and took as many creative writing classes as his schedule allowed. After graduation, he served as an editor at two alternative publications. These experiences later helped him start the Babbler web series in 1998.
His work has been praised by Bolingbrook residents and within the atheist/skeptical community. William is probably one of the few critics of former Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar who didn’t get exiled to Florida.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A monster-hunting gunslinger must traverse the Old West and stop an army of soul-devouring monsters arrive on Earth in author K.C. Grifant’s “Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger”.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
In an Old West overrun by monsters, a stoic gunslinger must embark on a dangerous quest to save her friends and stop a supernatural war.
Sharpshooter Melinda West, 29, has encountered more than her share of supernatural creatures after a monster infection killed her mother. Now, Melinda and her charismatic partner, Lance, offer their exterminating services to desperate towns, fighting everything from giant flying scorpions to psychic bugs. But when they accidentally release a demon, they must track a dangerous outlaw across treacherous lands and battle a menagerie of creatures—all before an army of soul-devouring monsters descend on Earth.
The Witcher meets Bonnie and Clyde in a re-imagined Old West full of diverse characters, desolate landscapes, and fast-paced adventure.
The Review
I love this book. The author does an incredible job of finding the balance needed to connect this horror and supernatural plot with the Western setting. The imagery the author utilizes in their writing comes into play brilliantly when setting the stage of gritty old-west drama and the visceral and haunting creatures that the protagonist comes up against. The balance of tone was great to see as well, as the author was able to bring camaraderie and lightheartedness in some sections of the narrative while also providing a depth and emotional connection that keeps the reader invested in these characters.
The driving force of this narrative was not only the action and suspense that comes with these supernatural threats but the well-developed characters that inhabit this world. The immediate heroism and complexity of Melinda, as well as her leadership alongside Lance, was great to see, and her evolution as a protagonist when coming up against these larger and larger threats was mesmerizing to behold as a fan of these genres.
The Verdict
Haunting, chilling, and entertaining, author K.C. Grifant’s “Melinda West: Monster Gunslinger” is a must-read western horror novel of 2023! The story felt like a natural blend of The Witcher, the cult classic video game Darkwatch, and a mind-bending Lovecraftian story. The twists and turns in the narrative and the powerful draw of the protagonist will have readers enthralled with this brand-new saga that introduces a hero worthy of the reader’s attention. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab your copy on February 2nd, 2023!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
KC Grifant is a Southern Californian author who writes internationally published horror, fantasy, science fiction and weird west stories for podcasts, anthologies and magazines.
Her writings have appeared in magazines and podcasts including: Andromeda Spaceways Magazine (cover story for issue #70), Unnerving Magazine, Aurealis Magazine, Fission Magazine, Cosmic Horror Monthly, Dark Matter Magazine, Tales to Terrify, the Lovecraft eZine, Sley House Podcasts, and many others.
In addition to a Weird West horror novel, MELINDA WEST: MONSTER GUNSLINGER (Feb 2023), she has also written stories for dozens of anthologies, including: Chromophobia; Dancing in the Shadows: A Tribute to Anne Rice; Musings of the Muse; Field Notes from a Nightmare; The One That Got Away; Six Guns Straight From Hell; Trembling with Fear: Year One; Shadowy Natures; Beyond the Infinite: Tales from the Outer Reaches; and the Stoker-nominated Fright Mare: Women Write Horror.
In addition, she is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), as well as the co-founder of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) San Diego chapter, an organization that helps to connect writers and fans of horror literature.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Death’s intern must save a small town in Texas as a mysterious plague turns its citizens into the beginning stages of the walking dead in author D.C. Gomez’s “Plague Unleashed”, the second book in The Intern Diaries series!
Advertisements
The Synopsis
After eight months as Death’s North America Intern, Isis Black is comfortable seeing dead people.
She is used to talking to the souls of the departed and helping Death carry the souls to the afterlife, too. But unfortunately, her intense training is not enough to prepare her for her new challenge: the walking dead.
Zombie-like people, whom have lost all higher-level consciousness, are walking the streets in the small Texas city of Texarkana, where Isis lives and works. Isis, and her teammates, a talking cat and a genius boy, must find the person responsible for this destruction, stop the infestation, and find a cure before every living person turns into a zombie or dies without a soul.
Not only must Isis find a cure for the plague, she must find it in five days—before twenty-thousand people arrive to watch and compete in the math and robotic Bowl Games.
If Isis doesn’t stop the plague in time, everyone who attends the games will contract the virus and spread it across the country.
Can Isis find the culprit, the cure, and save Texarkana and the country from a zombie apocalypse?
In this second book of the captivating series, The Intern Diaries, author D.C. Gomez takes the reader on a fast-paced, exciting journey through the real-life streets of Texarkana
The Review
This novel’s unique blend of humor and supernatural mythos was on point. The author did an incredible job of world-building in this narrative, with the small town of Texarkana not only bringing a more intimate setting to the larger-than-life narrative but also becoming quite vast in nature when the grand scale of this storyline comes to fruition.
Yet for me personally, it was the combination of rich character dynamics and deep-rooted mythos that the author crafted that made this story so brilliant. The inclusion of other powerful entities besides Death being expanded upon in this narrative and the inclusion and teases of other supernatural creatures and mythologies made the cohesive nature of the story feel pretty epic. All the while, the author brought some heart and humor to the situation with the cast of characters, for whom they found love and friendship amongst one another that kept them together and fueled their mission to help those affected by these supernatural threats.
The Verdict
Action-packed, captivating, and entertaining, author D.C. Gomez’s “Plague Unleashed” is a must-read paranormal and humorous fantasy novel and a great second novel in The Intern Diaries series! The breathtaking imagery and tension the author layers into the narrative enshrines the mind-blowing mythology the author builds upon from the first book and leaves readers eager for the third book in the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
D. C. Gomez is a USA Today Bestselling Author, born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in Salem, Massachusetts. She study film and television at New York University. After college she joined the US Army, and proudly served for four years.
Those experiences shaped her quirky sense of humor. D.C. has a love for those who served and the families that support them. She currently lives in the quaint city of Wake Village, Texas, with her furry roommate, Chincha.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A powerful vampire seeking the truth behind a betrayal and hoping to atone for his past meets a grad student and begins a powerful romance just as a pack of vicious vampires begins to descend on their town in author R.L. Merrill’s “Sundowners”, the first book in the series of the same name.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
From the author of the supernatural suspense series Gifted (Healer, Connection) comes a new queer paranormal romance series.
Praise for Connection: “The romance element is complemented nicely by the relentless action and adventure throughout, creating an emotionally intense and page-turning narrative…A fast-paced and fun fusion of supernatural romance and mainstream thriller.” ~Kirkus
Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.
Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.
Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.
*This book contains violence and sexual content. It is meant for audiences 18+
The Review
For any readers or cinematic aficionados out there who know their vampire history, the book immediately serves up some great callbacks to iconic vampire stories, with the narrative taking place in Santa Cruz, CA, the same location as the iconic The Lost Boys film. Yet this is no retelling, as the author ups the stakes and delivers an LGBTQ+ driven urban fantasy and supernatural horror narrative with an adult romance spin. The mystery and suspense of the narrative were so engaging, and the rich setting of Santa Cruz played such a unique and in-depth role in the narrative.
Yet it was the beautiful balance of mythology and character growth that really drew me into this story. The heated and passionate romance that bloomed between Creed and Roman was felt powerfully throughout this story, while the rich mythos that the author created allowed for some really unique and original takes on the vampire lore overall, allowing for a beautiful fusion of LGBTQ+ romance and supernatural urban fantasy.
The Verdict
Adrenaline-fueled, passionate, and entertaining, author R.L. Merrill’s “Sundowners” is the perfect first book in a brand new LGBTQ Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy series. The unique take on the vampire lore we’ve all come to know, as well as dashes of twists and turns that include cults, magic, and heated romances will have readers flocking to read more of this incredible author’s work. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
R.L. Merrill has a new MM paranormal romance out: Sundowners. And there’s a giveaway.
Vampire Creed Lowell drifts from town to town working with the elderly as a night nurse and looking to avenge his harrowing past. His youth and vitality make him a favorite of his patients and his gifts bring them peace. At long last he’s arrived in the place where he hopes to find the truth about those who betrayed him…but first he finds an unexpected love with a man who might understand him—or end him.
Grad student Roman San Angelo is struggling to handle his courses, teaching schedule, and research for his dissertation on an obscure cult. He spends every spare moment with his beloved yet demanding grandmother Frances who’s recently moved to an assisted living facility—and he’s fascinated by her night nurse, who is able to bring out the inner light which had faded during her battle with dementia. Something about Creed doesn’t add up, however, Roman finds himself fighting an undeniable attraction. His concerns multiply when Roman discovers a connection between Creed and a bizarre series of vampire-wannabe assaults in the area. A moment of weakness leads to a night of passion between them, and the promise of something more, and yet Roman can’t shake his concern that Creed is not what he seems.
Creed knows better than to bring a mortal into his world, even one who could help him find the link between the pack of violent vampires preying on the people of Santa Cruz and Creed’s past. When he discovers Creed’s secret, Roman is ready to step outside his comfort zone and accept everything a life with a vampire entails, and when Creed disappears, Roman will go to the ends of the earth to find the man who brought the light back to his grandmother and the warmth back to his own heart.
“Well, Mr. Lowell, I think we have everything we need. Your references all check out, and you passed your background check. Can you start on Friday?”
What a relief! I smiled and leaned against the wall of my dingy hotel room. Thank goodness for excellent references. I inhaled the combination mildew/chlorine smell caused by the permanent dampness from the ocean and the indoor swimming pool below my room, glad . This was the break I needed, or my current accommodations would soon go from bad to worse.
“Thank you, yes. What time does the evening shift start?” I kept my fingers crossed while I waited for the answer.
“Six o’clock. Just come to the front desk and our evening supervisor will get you set up. Lexi’s great. She’ll show you the ropes.”
“Wonderful. Thank you for this opportunity.”
“We should be thanking you, Mr. Lowell. You’re overqualified for the position, and we’ve had a difficult time keeping our evening staff. I hope this works out for the both of us.”
I thanked Yvonne, the Human Resources director, once more before disconnecting. Then the victory dance commenced.
“Did you hear that, Rhonda? We’re in!”
My red Doberman rested her jaw on her paws and made an old lady noise, indicating that she’d rather be napping than dancing.
I would not be thwarted, however. I danced a West Side Story routine across the room to the kitchenette and reached into the fridge with panache. There was one last bag of A-positive that I’d been sipping on since arriving in Santa Cruz, and now I could finish it off since I’d have a steady supply in just two days’ time. Not that I needed much—especially not when I was working—but it was important to never let my energy stores deplete. It affected my judgement and my ability to do the work that was so desperately needed.
I did a spin and a box step before kicking my leg out, and throwing my arms back in a layout. Hopefully I’d find a patient who knew the old dances at Puesta Del Sol, my new place of employment. They were the most fun to work with.
I reached into my lone duffel bag, which contained seven sets of scrubs, a suit, three white t-shirts, a pair of jeans, a Harvard hoodie, two pairs of shoes, and a small photo album that contained cherished pictures of my parents and younger siblings. The rest of my belongings and resources were hidden in pre-paid storage facilities around the country for when I got desperate…or had to run.
My family was all gone now. My little sister was the last, and she’d passed away four months ago according to the hometown newspaper in Macon County, Georgia. I read every copy that I could get ahold of through the local libraries. The internet had been such a great invention. Even though I hadn’t been home in nearly forty years, I’d managed to keep tabs on everyone. They’d all lived mostly happy, satisfying lives and died of natural causes at advanced ages, which was the best I could have hoped for.
But now that I had no worry of repercussions for my family, I could finally seek out the truth.
Puesta Del Sol was hopefully the end of the line. The last assisted-living home where I’d worked in Albuquerque had led me here, to Santa Cruz, California. “Go west, young man,” turned out to be the advice I’d needed all along.
I was determined to find those responsible for sending me on this decades-long exile. It wouldn’t be long now. It was time to set things straight, and it seemed fitting to be back near where it all started.
March 2019
Two months later, the trail of promising leads had gone cold. Still, I loved my new life in California. I was surrounded by a competent and diverse staff at Puesta Del Sol that knew how to run a place of healing and hope with patients who were happy and well cared for. And I loved Santa Cruz. It was almost enough to make me consider letting go of the past.
What a great place for a guy like me. It was easy to fit into the college town that was also a magnet for transients, tourists, and folks who were followers of alternative lifestyles. Not only were there practitioners of Eastern religions and schools of thought, but also those who claimed to be creatures of the night, a holdover from the vampire craze that swept the area after a hit movie in the ’80s made them cool. I occasionally even found folks who didn’t mind a little role play.
My love of music meant I was a frequent guest of The Catalyst, a large music venue, bar, and eatery located downtown that drew fans from all over the Bay Area. One night they’d feature punk, the next rap, and sometimes even classic rock bands made their way to the club.
Tonight was a perfect opportunity to blend in as a lineup of alternative bands from the eighties was playing. I’d worn my black suit, skinny tie, and black Dr. Martens. I’d even slicked my dark auburn hair back and donned black eyeliner for the hell of it, the makeup highlighting my eyes, so blue they made people stop and stare. Of course, the rest of the package could also be to blame for that. My pale, freckled skin fit the role of a night walker perfectly to round out the look.
I made my way through the crowd to the bar and ordered a beer. A willing playmate soon appeared, and the game was on.
The young man, dressed in a velvet waistcoat and ruffled poet’s shirt, saw me approach the bar and immediately perked up. I took a swig of my beer and nodded at the Goth. When I moved away from the bar, I felt him at my back as I headed to a dark corner. Once there, I leaned against the wall and waited.
The young man approached with a sly smile, and I took it as an invitation. I reached for his shoulder, turned him around slowly, and pulled him back against my chest, enjoying the way his body fit against mine.
“I have your permission?” I whispered in the young man’s ear. “I promise you’ll enjoy it.”
The young man turned to face me and his eyes widened in surprise. “Here?”
I smiled at him and ran a finger down his neck, enjoying the way he shivered. The energy from his excitement would have been enough to nourish me, but I was feeling greedy tonight.
“Yeah, just um, be safe about it.”
I bathed him in a wave of calm. The manipulation of energy was effortless for me now. “You’re in good hands, my friend.” I turned him around and stopped him when he went to loosen his belt. “Relax, I’ve got you.”
I slid his long curly blond hair to the side. I had ways of making the experience pleasurable, so I poured energy into giving this guy one helluva good time, one he’d remember for years to come. He just wouldn’t remember that a vampire sank his teeth gently into his neck and took sustenance from his body.
Give unto them what they require.
Take only what you need to survive.
I would never forget what I’d been taught.
“Blessed be.”
After a few sips, I felt my playmate shudder against me and let out a satisfied moan. A few more pulls and his body tensed, gasped, and shuddered once more. It was nice to know I hadn’t lost my touch.
It had been a long time since I’d chanced feeding in public, but I felt safe here. Santa Cruz had welcomed me with open arms, and I wanted to stay.
The young man raised his arm and cupped the back of my head. He pressed his ass back against me, and I knew it was time to end this tryst.
“Thank you,” I whispered against his ear, and then pressed a kiss to his neck.
“I should be thanking you,” the guy said. “What’s your name?”
I disappeared into the crowd before the young man turned to look, and I was out of the club before he could wonder what happened.
I rarely drank blood—it was an infrequent need to maintain my existence as long as I had plenty of human energy to manipulate—and I always made sure my partner enjoyed it. But the act often left me feeling…empty. I worked hard to help others live a more satisfying life, and after all this time, I sometimes resented that I couldn’t pursue happiness of my own. I would have loved to take that young man home and enjoy more than just an Exchange. Someday I would find…someone. But not until it was safe. Not until I’d done what I came here to do.
Author Bio
“With a strong plot, an expertly crafted cast of supporting characters, and deep empathy, Merrill’s novel will keep readers hooked.” —Publishers Weekly review of Typhoon Toby.
Whether she’s writing contemporary romance featuring quirky and relatable characters or diving deep into the paranormal and supernatural to give readers a shiver, R.L. Merrill loves creating compelling stories that will stay with readers long after. Winner of the Kathryn Hayes “When Sparks Fly” Best Contemporary award for Hurricane Reese, and a Foreword INDIES finalist for Summer of Hush, Ro spends every spare moment improving her writing craft and striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after.
She writes diverse and inclusive romance, contributes paranormal hilarity to Robyn Peterman’s Magic and Mayhem Universe, and pens horror-inspired music reviews for HorrorAddicts.net.
You can find her connecting with readers on social media, advocating for America’s youth, raising two brilliant kids, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
For some reason, when I was 18, I got it into my head that I wanted to write a book. Being a child who was very focused on maths and science growing up, I wasn’t particularly good at writing. This meant I had to learn how to write while I was an adult. The process was a little shocking, actually. I couldn’t believe the things I didn’t know! Surely I went to school?
What inspired you to write your book?
Death, sadly. I cover this a lot at the end of the book. But after a good friend of mine died at 24, I felt lost. I have been an atheist since I was ten and was happy with the prospect of there being no afterlife. But when my friend died, I was faced with the reality that everything she was was no longer in the universe. That was hard. In a way, I wrote this book to rage against the unfairness of reality. The Archivist is my creation that will keep loved ones tethered to me. It’s a fantasy I can escape into. I hope others escape there too.
Advertisements
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope they enjoy the story more than anything. I don’t like books that preach. However, I think it would be difficult for this book not to light some kind of spark inside the reader. What I hope I’ve portrayed is a flawed system, as opposed to something we can all agree is amazing like having superpowers. On the surface, archivists seem like a wonderful idea that we should want to have in our world, but scratch the surface and you learn they only bring suffering.
I suppose then, if I want the reader to take away anything from the story, it is that death is real and one day they will have to face it. First, the people they love, then their own death. They can believe whatever story they need to calm their feelings, but that doesn’t shield them from the truth. Enjoy your life, enjoy the lives of others. We’ve all only got the one. Don’t waste it.
What drew you into this particular genre?
What genre is this? I called it dark fantasy, buy I’m not sure that’s accurate. Death fantasy, perhaps? Either way, I don’t think I was drawn to the genre, I think the book led me there. I wrote the story I wanted to write then when I took a step back, I understood that it was the genre it became. I never set out to write a specific genre, just a story I wanted told.
If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I’d ask Sun-young what would make her happy. Sun has been in my head for a long time and so she feels like a part of me. I want her to be happy. Perhaps if I write a sequel, I could give her that happiness.
Advertisements
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Goodreads has been the best, though you do have to prepare yourself for some brutal reviews. I may not have received any of those myself, but I’m still prepared. I check for them around every corner, waiting to jump out at me and criticize my hard work!
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Work at your own pace and write your own story. Writing won’t make you rich. Make sure you have a job, or better yet, a career, and write for your own enjoyment. If you are self publishing, put your money where your mouth is. Don’t toss out some nonsense on KDP without going through several rounds of professional editing. Edit your story, pay for a professional cover and be exacting with what you want. When you get a great review, let that warm feeling of satisfaction run through you for day. When you get a bad review, tell yourself that no story is loved by everyone, buy yourself some chocolate and get on with your life.
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I have another book in second draft that I hope to get out in two to three years. This one is middle grade science fiction about a girl who sells time and lives with a robot at the base of a space elevator. I’m really excited by it. Totally different to The Archivist, but then I like books to be different and for authors to explore the wider universe of stories.
Advertisements
About the Author
V S Nelson writes unconventional middle grade and young adult fantasy, science fiction and supernatural stories for readers who enjoy something a little strange.
Their first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. Their second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with their other half, two children and three cats. When not writing, they’re either working as a theoretical physicist or building Lego.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The last Archivist who sells his services as a soul harvester to others in order to preserve their dying loved ones finds himself embroiled in a deadly plot after a teenage boy tricks him into murder, and as a suicidal cult dies at his feet, an ancient power begins to hunt him down in author V.S. Nelson’s “The Archivist”.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Death is not the end.
There is no God waiting for you in paradise. No afterlife where friendships severed by death are reformed and families reunited. There is only the Aether, a dimension of insatiable hunger that will possess you no matter the life you led.
Yet there is hope for a lucky few. Archivists, existing between the world of the living and the world of the dead, can offer salvation… for a price. Taking your essence in the final moments before death, they become your afterlife, allowing you to speak with those who remain.
When the last archivist is tricked into murder by troubled teenager, Sun-young Kang, he finds himself the centre of a suicidal cult that die at his feet. But there is more to these deaths than the Archivist realises. Someone is coming for him.
The Archivist may be the closest thing to a god that walks the Earth, but is that enough to keep those he cares about safe?
The Archivist is an incredibly rich novel with a truly original concept. It is cinematic in its scope and details the haunting, but also beautiful, gift an archivist could offer a person in their final moments.
The Review
This was such a brilliant and unique read. The author did an incredible job of crafting a mythos and world that felt both alive and new in its identity. The emotional depth of the narrative was greatly felt, as readers felt the character’s struggles with loss and the concept of death and the afterlife as a whole. The heavy atmosphere and tension that came with that reality were both relatable and original in their delivery.
The character arcs of this narrative and how they played into the evolving mythos surrounding the Aether and the Archivists were incredible to watch. The complexity of the Archivist itself and how it holds so many other essences within itself while maintaining some sort of autonomy was so thought-provoking and unique. Yet it was the emotional toll of the families and those living within the Archivist in death that really drove the heart of this narrative home.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, engaging, and thoughtful, author V.S. Nelson’s “The Archivist” is a must-read novel o 2022. The growing mythology of the Aether and the Archivists was so creative and unique in its development, and the imagery the author used in their writing was both beautiful and chilling, depending on the moment in the book the reader was reading. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
V S Nelson writes unconventional middle grade and young adult fantasy, science fiction and supernatural stories for readers who enjoy something a little strange.
Their first story was The Keeper of Portals, a middle grade fantasy/sci-fi with plenty of portal jumping and time slipping. Their second story, The Archivist, is a young adult dark fantasy all about death and what happens after.
V S Nelson loves big ideas, fantastical concepts and stories that unsettle the reader and set them thinking about something new.
V S Nelson lives in Winchester with their other half, two children and three cats. When not writing, they’re either working as a theoretical physicist or building Lego.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange or a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman finds herself stuck between two worlds as a time travel adventure introduces historical figures, a shocking murder, and a startling discovery about her destiny in author Andrea Faye Christians’s “Suspension”, a Time Binder series novel.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
An unexpected time travel tale. When Carla Thompson falls asleep and doesn’t wake up, she is shocked to discover what destiny has in store for her. Suspended between two worlds, she meets Isambard Brunel, the legendary eighteenth-century civil engineer, who built the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, and who now serves as guardian of its secrets. Historical events intertwine with Carla’s current reality and along the way she discovers a murder, encounters a host of characters including Jamaican psychic, Matilda, and engages in verbal banter with literary legend, Ernest Hemingway. Her adventures lead her to a startling revelation about why she was chosen for her strange new role. In death Carla realises she has never felt more alive.
The Review
This is such a unique and imaginative read. The author does an incredible job of capturing the curiosity, the surreal, and almost magical concept of how life after death works and how the concept of destiny doesn’t always end or even start in life. The imagery and atmosphere the author creates are so mesmerizing, and the layered mythos that the author creates is so engaging for the reader to delve into.
Yet it was the richness of the characters and their backstories that really drew me into the narrative. The shock of the protagonist’s new reality and the explorative nature of her journey as she learns and discovers herself in this world within our own world was amazing to read. It put an all-new spin on the time-travel elements of the story, as well as the more philosophical and spiritual themes the author explored in this read.
The Verdict
Engaging, thought-provoking, and highly creative, author Andrea Faye Christians’ “Suspension (Time Binder)” is a must-read novel for Summer 2022! The surreal reality that Carla finds herself in and the amazing cast of characters she meets along the way showcase the connectivity of our world and those within it, and made for such an intriguing story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Andrea Faye Christians was born and raised in Swansea, South Wales. Following a successful career in British radio including the BBC, she moved to the southern Mediterranean island of Malta to pursue her dream of becoming a freelance writer. A decade later she bought a farm in the Madonie Mountains of Sicily where a menagerie of rescue animals found their way to her. With a son in Malta and a daughter in Sicily, Andrea has a home and her heart in both places, and she now divides her time between the neighbouring islands. Suspension is her debut novel. She is working on the second book in the Time Binder Series as well as a novel entitled Chemo Club.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A London investigator and a private eye in the late 60s must work together to stop a ritualistic killer before it’s too late in author Alan Golbourn’s “The 666 Murders: A Supernatural Thriller”.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
His time is now …
London, 1966
Fear grips the capital when a second ritualistically murdered victim is found in an alleyway — with their heart removed.
With no leads or motive, DCS Kendall Quincy is under intense pressure to find the sadistic killer before a third victim is claimed.
Out of luck Randolph Landon — disillusioned with his life as a private investigator and separated from his family, soon becomes embroiled with his biggest, challenging, and most terrifying case to date. The case leads him down a sinister road to a chilling discovery like no other, so that he regrets grumbling about his lack of work and misfortune …
The Review
This was such a chilling and haunting read. The author did an incredible job of building tension and layering the atmosphere with suspense that kept readers on the edge of their seats. The balance of mythos and world-building the author made with the complex yet nuanced character development was greatly felt throughout the reading and made the growing mystery of this series of occult murders so harrowing to read.
Yet it was the richness of the narrative itself and the slow growth of the characters and their backgrounds that really kept me invested. The ways in which the heroes all came together by the book’s end completely made me conjure up images of Van Helsing, Jonathan Harker, and Quincy Morris traveling to Dracula’s castle to slay the immortal monster. The well-developed villain of the tale is quite horrifying and yet mesmerizing to read, and the way his backstory plays into the narrative and the mythos as a whole was so creative and unique, making me hooked on the author’s tale.
The Verdict
Brilliant, entertaining, and spookily delightful to behold, author Alan Golbourn’s “The 666 Murders” are a must-read suspense horror read. The equal ways in which the author develops the thriller aspects of the narrative with the supernatural mythos and action that takes place throughout the read made this story a classic horror tale in the making. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age, when he was recognized early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds a love and compassion for animals.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman must balance the safety of her people with the welfare of her newfound family in the next chapter of author Anna J. Walner’s exhilarating paranormal thriller series (The Uluru Legacy), “Larougo”.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
The thrilling continuation of the Uluru Legacy Series.
While some questions will be answered, more will be raised. As new truths come to light, and new evils make themselves known, not everyone will survive.
The vision for a new Colony is at stake as Amelia and Roan discover they’re part of something even larger than they thought.
A delicious and compelling continuation of the story that captured the attention of audiences earlier this year. A book with bite, that doesn’t disappoint.
The Review
A fantastic follow-up to the author’s first incredible supernatural thriller, author Anna J. Walner has hit it out of the park once more. The way the author built upon the mythos and legacy of this unique spin on vampires and lycanthropes was incredible to watch unfold in each chapter, as new elements of the mythos and new discoveries added layers upon layers of new mysteries and tension amidst the growing narrative.
The characters were so incredibly developed in this second installment. The complex nature of protagonist Amelia’s duality and her power set make her a fierce and devoted leader, and the twists and turns in her story amongst the other characters are what will keep readers invested throughout the narrative. From her shocking confrontation with her mother to the introduction of another complex element in her and Roan’s growing romance to the greater threat to the Colony overall growth over time, Amelia’s journey in this novel is evenly balanced with the mythology and action this novel has.
The Verdict
Entertaining, heart-pounding, and brilliantly gritty and original, author Anna J. Walner’s “Larougo” is a must-read novel of 2021. The perfect fall read for fans of the original story, this next chapter in the growing Uluru universe continues to add new changes to the mythos and engaging way the author addresses the supernatural in this tale, and the shocking cliffhanger will have fans eager for more. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Anna writes under both under Vanessa Morris and Anna J. Walner.
Anna is the author of two fantasy series, The Enrovia Series, and The Uluru Legacy.
She is an International Bestseller, B&N Bestseller, and Amazon.com Bestseller. She is also the Executive Producer of The Author Library Network on YouTube.
You can find out more on her website: AnnaJWalner.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Author Anthony Avina's Blog 